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Prosecutor: Drug kingpin tied to Toms River attempted murders

The presumed mastermind of a drug operation that spanned three counties is facing murder charges and several of his confederates are facing an assortment of murder, attempted murder, drug and weapons charges, the Hudson County Prosecutor announced Monday.

JERSEY CITY - The presumed mastermind of a drug operation that spanned three counties is facing murder charges and several of his confederates are facing an assortment of murder, attempted murder, drug and weapons charges, the county prosecutor announced Monday.

Hudson County Prosecutor Esther Suarez announced a 79-count indictment accusing 31-year-old Golden Williamson of two murders in Jersey City and several attempted murders there and in Toms River.

The indictment also names Williamson as a kingpin in a trafficking scheme that moved heroin and cocaine through Hudson, Monmouth and Ocean counties.

The indictment also says Williams murdered Byunguen Lee on Dec. 19, 2015, and Kevin Miles on January 28, 2016. Both victims lived in Jersey City. Eric Dawson, 26, of Jersey City is also facing a murder charge in Miles' killing.

The indictment also charges Williamson and another man, 28-year-old James Stagger, with trying to kill yet another person on November 4, 2015, in Jersey City.

"The leaders of this violent narcotics network engaged in multiple vicious attacks bringing fear and intimidation to witnesses, residents and business owners in Jersey City and other municipalities statewide," Suarez said in a prepared statement.

Ocean County Prosecutor Joseph Coronato joined Suarez in praising the local and county agencies that investigated the rash of drug and violent crimes, praising the patrol officer and detective from Toms River who first investigated shootings in their township before coordinating with the county. Police from Wall, Tinton Falls and Jersey City and investigators from Hudson and Monmouth counties also worked on the case.

According to the indictment, some of the defendants had tried to sell heroin and cocaine in Jersey City, Tinton Falls, Toms River and Wall.